(from sssip: video above not connected with the play “Kanser”, we simply grabbed it at Youtube.com. Video above courtesy offelixbautista).*
Dr. Jose Rizal’s teachings and messages for the Filipino people is still the most valuable strength for our country. It’s the still the most precious GEM to reckon with- messages that was implied through his two classic novels- Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Without those two novels, the Philippines could have been left UNGUIDED. Not knowing their true Filipino selves.
Stories, characters, symbolism, representations and anecdotes created by Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, were so eternal, lasting, profound. And until now, those situations still EXIST. Continuing on with the present-day SOCIETY.
Through the play KANSER (a play with music), which is Gantimpala Theater Foundation’s longest-running play, and to date, also the longest-running play in Philippine Theater history, Rizal’s legacy, especially to the Filipino youth could be felt over and over again.
A lot of many respected theater performers have appeared and acted on this play- the likes of Tommy Abuel, Pen Medina, Grace Amilbangsa, Alan Paule, Cris Pastor, Joel Molina, Christine Joy Mangahis, to name a few.
And this year, a new round of actors/actresses- all respected on the theater scene- appears on this new version of KANSER. And we do feel, with their outright dedication and willingness to offer a part of themselves to breathe life anew to the said classic play, we felt we must pay TRIBUTE to them, in our own simple way.
And here it is. THE CAST OF THIS YEAR’S “KANSER” (a play with music). IN PICTURES!!!
(PHOTOS BY JHAY-R LAGRIMAS, OF RIGHT CLICK PHOTOGRAPHY)
CARLO MANALAC as CRISOSTOMO IBARRAKL DIZON as MARIA CLARAJANSEN AGUILAR as PADRE SALVIFRANCIS MATHEU as ELIASDEA FORMACIL-CHUA as SISAJOVITO BONITA as KAPITAN TIYAGOABIGAIL ASUNCION as TAONG BAYANALBERT SILOS as BASILIOANGELO ILUSTRE as CRISPIN
rancisco Arcellana (National Artist for Literature)1
“CCP to Celebrate Arcellana’s Literary Legacy”
THE Intertextual Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) invites teachers, students and lovers of Philippine Literature to the opening ceremonies of the Centennial Celebration of the birth of National Artist Francisco Arcellana on September 6, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater. This event is free and open to the public.
There will be performances inspired by Arcellana’s literary works and the launching of the National Artist Francisco Arcellana Commemorative Postage Stamp by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Philpost. Arcellana stamps and books that feature him as author will also be exhibited. The Arcellana family will grace the event to lead the ceremonies.
The Arcellana Centennial Celebration is a chance to get familiar with the works of the Filipino literary genius, Francisco Arcellana. He was an accomplished fictionist, essayist, critic and poet in his own right. He authored well-anthologized stories such as “The Mats,” “The Flowers of May,” “How to Read,” “The Wing of Madness,” “Divide by Two”, and “A Marriage was Made”. Some of his works have been translated into Filipino, Malaysian, Italian, German and Russian.
Born on September 6, 1916 in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Arcellana was part of the generation of writers that reinvented the literary form short story in the English language. He also taught and held key positions at the Department of English and Comparative Literature, University of the Philippines Diliman where he mentored Alfred “Krip”Yuson, Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Erwin Castillo, Charlson Ong, Marra PL. Lanot and Mailin Paterno-Locsin.
The Arcellana Centennial Celebration is the offering of the Intertextual Division, formerly known as Literary Arts Division, for the 47th anniversary of the CCP, which will officially start in September.
“Lakas maka-On The Wings Of Love!”, wika ng photographer na si Jhay-R Lagrimas sa bagong konsepto ni direk Frannie Zamora para sa poster at promo materials ng dulang KANSER ng Gantimpala Theater Foundation.
Ano bang laban ngayon ng Al-Dub at Kath-Niel ngayon sa tambalang KL-Carlo? Hahahayyy…
Anyway, totoo naman ang sinabi ni direk Frannie sa amin minsan na ang nobelang Noli Me Tangere ni Dr. Jose Rizal (into which the play KANSER was adapted) ay basically, isang LOVE STORY talaga. Isa itong kuwento ng pagmamahalan nina Crisostomo Ibarra at Maria Clara. Kaya napapanahon lamang na dito i-sentro ang pinaka-pambentang aspeto ng dula. Na mas tatangkilikin ng mga kabataan. Sub-plot na lang dito ang mga banat ni Rizal sa Politika at Lipunan.
Sa isa pang dula kasi ni Rizal- ang El Filibusterismo– ay doon niya sinentro ang talaga Politikal na aspeto. Pero sa Noli Me Tangere, talagang love story lang.
Puspusan na ngayon ang rehearsals ng mga cast na kasama sa dulang ito. Dahil sa Setyembre 2 na ang una nilang pagtatanghal sa AFP Theater.
Tignan na lamang sa itaas ang larawan nina Carlo Manalac at KL Dizon bilang sina Crisostomo Ibarra at Maria Clara. Tunay namang kaibig-ibig, di po ba?
KANSER, A PLAY WITH MUSIC….
SOOOOOON!
(words by robert manuguid silverio)
PHOTO ABOVE BY MR. JHAY-R LAGRIMAS of right click photography
THE ten finalists for Cinemalaya 2017 were announced at the Cinemalaya 2016 Awards night held on August 14 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The finalists for the full length feature are:
·BAGAHE (The Baggage) by Zig Dulay. An OFW escapes from her rapist boss and dumps her fetus at the comfort room of an airplane hoping to go back to the Philippines and be with her family.
· ANG PAMILYANG HINDI LUMULUHAby Mes de Guzman. A woman is desperate to bring back her husband and her children, but only a popular “family without tears” can restore her hopes to rebuild her own family.)
· UNANG PATAK NG ULAN SA BUWAN NG MAYO (The First Drop of Rain in the Month of May) by Cenon Obispo Palomares. Twelve-year-old Bobong falls in love for the first time – with Perla Sirena, a perya mermaid. But as he transitions to manhood, his small farming village is also going through spiritual and moral crises. May is almost over yet not a single drop of rain has fallen on their parched land. And as everyone gets sick, thirsty, and desperate, Bobong discovers their dark secrets and witnesses how low desperate people could go.
· LOLA IGNA by Eduardo Roy, Jr. Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end – Joanne Harris One death. One title. One decision that will change everything.
· ANG GURO KONG DI MARUNONG MAGBASA(My Teacher Who Doesn’t Know How To Read) by Perry Escano. “In this barrio, the number of child warrior grows when their illiterate teacher disappears and education is ignored”.
· PACBOY by Thop Nazareno. This is the story of Kiko, an 11-year old boy, who was looking for the world famous Filipino boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, the man he thinks is his father, but instead finds a has-been boxer, George, who became a father figure to him at a time when he needed a father to look up to.
· NABUBULOK by Sonny Calvento. Luna is missing. Jason Harper, her American husband, is alleged of killing her. As Jason intends to leave the country, circumstances conspire to avert his plan.
· REQUITED by Nerissa Picadizo. A dramatic biking love story with splashes of adventure. “Requited” is about a disease-stricken biker who wants to conquer a treacherous terrain on one final adventure that pitted him against nature and the woman he desires.
· RESPETO by Treb Monteras II. An amateur young hiphop rapper and a grumpy veteran poet cross paths during a stand-off between riot police and squatters. Both are compelled to interact and deal with each other’s problems, healing the wounds of the past and having a new perspective on writing their respective verses.
· BACONAUA by Joseph Israel Laban. After a particularly strong squall, a sleepy fishing village in a tiny island in Southern Tagalog wakes up to an astonishing sight – their sea has turned red. Floating on their waters are thousands of apples. No one knows where it came from. Some see it as a bad omen from the baconaua – a creature of myth. A few think it’s a miracle from heaven. While others fear a more sinister source.
The finalists each received a Php750,000 production grant from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation.
Cinemalaya, which recently held its 12th edition on August 5-14 at the CCP and Ayala Theaters in Cebu, Solenad, Nuvali, Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma, UP Town Center and Fairview Terraces, has supported and promoted the production of 127 full feature independent films and 106 short films. Many of these films have won awards in local and international competitions and festivals. Through the annual festival, Cinemalaya has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films.
Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.
The 13th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will be held on August 4-13, 2017.
It’s a very simple European film with sexy undertones. But what mattered most in this unpretentious small film was the pure and concise message it implied. It spoke of LOVE.
And LOVE solidifies itself in many forms- in flowers, oceans, hills, …. and human beings, too. In the film ROSITA, love was shown in the very being and image of the actress who portrayed it- no less than our own gem and pride- Ms. Mercedes Cabral.
She was the epitome of love itself in the movie. And she delivered it well, without any harsh efforts on her part, she simply did her job, polished her acting skills, minimized her moves and all- and simply used her eyes and subtle ways of reacting in the most difficult scenes of the movie. Yes, it spoke of international acclaim. We meant, her acting skills.
It was simply astonishing. Only her lips moved, highlighted by her brows and her eyes, supplicated by her cheeks, roundish ass and well-sculpted body figure. Mercedes, indeed, was a wonder.
Too bad this was only a small independent European film, if it could have been a mainstream Hollywood film, the more chaos and “promos” could have made Mercedes a real “hot one”.
ROSITA told of a story in which every Filipinos could relate to. That, of finding someone to LOVE in the twilight years of your life. Rosita’s character came to rescue a European family out to be totally eaten-out by their strong, independent culture. With Rosita’s entrance upon being invited-in to be the father’s new mistress, changes came. But beautiful ones at that.
Even when the son left because he fell in love with Rosita, too, we could say, was a beautiful change. It was a new horizon explored.
Thank you for the director and the story-maker of this film for putting Filipinos in a good light- seen in a more profound and wonderful way. Thank you… thank you!!!
With ROSITA, life could never be the same again-
JUST LIKE…
FOREVER.
(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)
mercedes cabral with blogger sssip (PHOTO BY: MR. DON GORDON BELL)shandii bacolod (mercedes cabral’s manager) with blogger sssip (PHOTO BY: MR. DON GORDON BELL)
THE Association of Pinoyprintmakers (A/P), previously known as the Printmakers Association of the Philippines or PAP, will hold an exhibition entitled Papers and Layers on August 27 to September 25, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Second Floor Hallway Gallery and Little Theater Lobby.
For their 2016 show at the CCP, the Pinoyprintmakers go back to basics, so to speak and return to works on paper. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are relegated as “traditional”, for printmaking is vital to the changes of the visual arts landscape. Though the works may be rendered on paper, the final prints may be transposed as sculptural works on paper, installation art with paper, and such. Hence, they just do not pander on one surface but rather give it layers by how they work with images as they add and or press them on surfaces.
Participating artists include Ambie Abano, Buen Abrigo, Jose Santos Ardivilla, Virgilio Aviado, Mars Bugaoan, Mica Cabildo, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Kristen Cain, Salvador Ching, Joey Cobcobo, Jean Dee, Fil Delacruz, Janos Delacruz, Neil Doloricon, Noell EL Farol, Samantha Feleo, Jess Flores, Raul Isidro, Eugene Jarque, Lea Lim, Lenore RS Lim, Angelo Magno, Fara Manuel, Maja Markovic, Ged Merino, Jonathan Olazo, Renan Ortiz, Henrielle Pagkaliwangan, Rhoda Recto, Jun-Jun Sta, Ana, Suchin Teoh, Josephine Turalba, andWesley Valenzuela.
The Pinoyprintmakers will interact with the public in an Artists Talk and Demonstration slated on September 7, 2pm-4pm, at the CCP MKP Hall.
Other exhibitions on view at the CCP are Promdi, the group exhibit of Dumaguete artists, until 14 August at the Pasilyo Vicente Manansala (2F Hallway Gallery) and Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino (3F Hallway Gallery) and Ryan Rubio’s Instinctual Creationuntil 11 September Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo (Small Gallery).
CCP gallery hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm (or 8pm on days with performances in the Main Theater).
For more information, contact the Visual Arts & Museum Division, Production & Exhibition Department at landlines (632) 832-1125 local 1504/1505, or (632) 832-3702, mobile (0917) 6033809, email ccp.exhibits@gmail.com, or visitwww.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
Triple Fret, the country’s leading guitar ensemble and the only guitar trio of its kind in the Philippines, is the second featured artist of the CCP Special Concert Series on August 24, 2016 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino at 7:30 PM.
This classical contemporary guitar trio composed of guitarists Jenny de Vera, Iqui Vinculado and Marga Abejo, are all graduates of premier schools in the country – the UP College of Music and the UST Conservatory of Music. They have attended masterclasses conducted by David Russell, Carlos Bonnell, Rafael Serrallet, Carsten Link, Lester Demetillo and other influential guitarists. The group stands out for its extensive repertoire of Spanish guitar pieces, tangos, jazz standards, Filipino traditional, love songs and well-loved classical pieces all infused with a style uniquely their own. In 2014, the group released their first independent album entitled “#GITARA FILIPINA” which was launched in a sold out concert at the Ayala Museum. They were awarded first prize in the Guitar Ensemble Category in the 2014 Tarrega Malaysia International Festival in Malaysia. In2015 they again garnered the First Prize at the 27th Japan Guitar Ensemble Festival in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Recently, the group received the 2016 National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Ani ng Dangal for Music, the only guitar recipient of the award. Triple Fret has given numerous performances in Europe and Asia. It’s most distinguished performances in Europe include the Tong Tong Fair in the Netherlands, the SOL Guitars Festival in Valencia, Spain; and the Guitarra Festival in Siguenza, Spain in honor of the world renowned luthier Jose Romanillos. The members also performed for the Syrian children refugees in the Syrain Refugee Camp in Kilis, Turkey.
For the August 24 concert, Jeffrey Malazo, the group’s musical director, composer and arranger will take the place of Triple Fret member Marga Abejo. Jeffrey Malazo is a DCPMA (Diploma in Creative Performing Musical Arts) Guitar graduate from the UP College of Music under Prof. Lester Demetillo.
The program includes Joaquin Turina’s Danza from Jardin de Oriente, Op. 25 arranged by Lester Demetillo, Albeniz’ Cordoba,Gregorio Labja’s Usahay arranged by Jeffrey Malazo, Santiago Suarez’ Katakataka arranged by Lester Demetillo, Restie Umali’sPandangguhan arranged by Agot Espino and Lester Demetillo, Bach’s Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043 arranged by Ramon Vergara, the Philippine premieres of Agustin Avila’s Novem (for Triple Fret) and Gerald Garcia’s Le Grazie arranged by Jeffrey Malazo, the world premiere of Jennifer (for Triple Fret) by Jeffrey Malazo, Paulo Bellinati’s Baiao de Gude and Eraserhead’sAng Huling El Bimbo, arranged by Jeffrey Malazo.
For more ticket inquiries please call 832-2304 or 891-9999.
Cinemalaya Main Competition winners pose with their trophies together with the members of the Cinemalaya Organizing Committee, Main Competition jurors and NETPAC jurors. (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)‘Mercury is Mine’ actress Pokwang, with director Jason Paul Laxamana and actor Bret Jackson. The film won Best Screenplay and Special Jury Prize awards. (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)Ramon A.L. Garilao wins the Special Jury award and Best Direction award for the film ‘Fish Out of Water’ in the short film category. (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)Best Supporting Actor award went to the ensemble cast of ‘Hiblang Abo’ featuring, from left, Leo Rialp, Jun Urbano, Lou Veloso and Nanding Josef (Not in photo). (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)
Pamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy, Jr., a compelling portrait of teen age street dwellers and their desperate search for their kidnapped baby scooped five major awards while veteran actor Tommy Abuel was named Best Actor for his role as a man tormented by his past in Dagsin by Renato ‘Atom’ Magadia, Jr. at the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Awards Night on August 14, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater.
Pamilya Ordinaryo won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Performance of an Actress, Best Editing and the NETPAC Award for the full length category. Besting eight films in the full length feature category, Pamilya Ordinaryo was lauded “for its strong sense of realism, the mix of narrative and the use of real CCTV footages combine to make it more gritty and dramatically powerful…” while NETPAC praised it “for its grim but engaging narrative about a non-ordinary family…” As Best Film winner, Pamilya Ordinaryo won Php350,000 cash award and the Cinemalaya Balanghai trophy.
Eduardo Roy, Jr. was cited for his masterful control of his work and for creating a clear vision for his powerful story. This is Roy’s third time around at Cinemalaya. In 2013 Cinemalaya, he won major awards, including the Special Jury Prize for Quick Change that went on to earn critical success internationally. He debuted at Cinemalaya with Bahay Bata in 2011.
Hasmine Killip won Best Actress for her role as Jane, the 16-year old mother of infant Arjan. Killip was cited “for her brilliant, gritty and moving performance as a young teenage girl living in the street jungle of Manila. Carlos Francisco Manatad won Best Editing and was cited for “precision and a relentless rhythm that maintains the momentum of a hopeless search for a missing child.”
Multi-awarded actor Tommy Abuel added another laurel to his cap with his outstanding performance in Dagsin by Renato Magadia, Jr. In the film, Abuel plays an ageing and newly widowed judge who spends his days bound to a wheelchair and held hostage by his past. Abuel was cited “for an extraordinary performance that is the soul of the film. From the very first frame, till the last image, all we see is his soul’s torment…”
Mercury is Mine by Jason Paul Laxamana garnered the Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay awards. The film was cited for its “deft balance of comedy, drama and dark satire” and its screenplay, written by the director Laxamana, was praised for exploring multiple themes of acceptance and rejection of the other within a delicious context of food and film. Pokwang stars in the film as Carmen, the cook and owner of an eatery at the foothills of Arayat in Pampanga while her Mercury, played by Bret Jackson, is the young American who waits on tables.
Tuos by Roderick Cabrido, which starred Nora Aunor, won five awards for Best Cinematography (Mycko David), Best Production Design (Steff Dereja), Best Sound (Monoxide Works), Best Original Music Score (Jema Pamintuan), and Audience Choice.
Lollie Mara for Ang Bagong Pamilya ni Ponching tied with Elizabeth Oropesa for I America for the Best Supporting Actress award.
The Best Supporting Actor award was given to the ensemble cast of Hiblang Abo consisting of Lou Veloso, Jun Urbano, Leo Rialp, Nanding Josef for Hiblang Abo. The jury decided that “no one actor is better than the others—they all build a group.”
In the Short Feature category, the awards were dominated Isabel Quesada’s Pektus and Ramon A.L. Garilao’s Fish Out of Water. The Best Film and Best Screenplay awards went to Pektus while Fish Out of Water won Special Jury Prize, Best Direction. The NETPAC Award was garnered by Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit , At ang Makata by Jose Ibarra Guballa while the Audience Choice Award went to Forever Natin by Cyrus Valdez.
Nine films competed in the Full Length Feature category. These were:
ANG BAGONG PAMILYA NI PONCHING by Inna Miren Salazar and Dos Ocampo
· DAGSIN by Renato ‘Atom’ Magadia, Jr.
· HIBLANG ABO by Ralston Jover
· I AMERICA by Ivan Andrew Payawal
· KUSINA by David Corpuz & Cenon Palomares
· LANDO AT BUGOY by Vic Acedillo, Jr.
· MERCURY IS MINE by Jason Paul Laxamana
· PAMILYA ORDINARYO by Eduardo Roy, Jr.
· TUOS by Roderick Cabrido
Ten films competed in the Short Feature category. These were:
· ANG HAPON NI NANDING (NANDING’S AFTERNOONS) by Rommel Tolentino
· ANG MAANGAS, ANG MARIKIT AT ANG MAKATA by Jose Ibarra Guballa
· BUGTAW by Noah del Rosario
· BUTAS by Richard Cawed
· FISH OUT OF WATER by Ramon A.L. Garilao
· FOREVER NATIN by Cyrus Valdez
· GET CERTIFIED by Isaias Herrera Zantua
· MANSYONG PAPEL by Ogos Aznar
· NAKAUWI NA by John Relano, Patrick Baleros and Luis Hidalgo
· PEKTUS by Isabel Quesada
Members of the NETPAC Jury were Yasu Tanaka, Axel Estein and Nestor O. Jardin. Members of the Main Competition Jury were Hubert Niogret, Philip Cheah, Jerrold Tarrog, Lav Diaz and Ma. Rosario ‘Charo’ Santos-Concio.
Now on its 12th year, Cinemalaya has supported and promoted the production of 127 full feature independent films and 106 short films. Many of these films have won awards in local and international competitions and festivals. Through the annual festival, Cinemalaya has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films. Cinemalaya this year was held at the CCP and in Ayala Theaters in Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta, Makati, Fairview Terraces, TriNoma, and UP Town Center, Quezon City, Solenad, Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Ayala Center Cebu.
Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.
BABY DWAYNE JULIAN SILVERIO
YASUHIKO TAKIZAWA
SSSIP's "A.W.E." ((ATTIC of WHITE ETHEREALS!)) 